My First 6 Months at FFW: A Journey from Backend to Frontend

I can hardly believe it's been half a year since I jumped into the world of FFW. After spending a solid 14 years as a backend developer, the transition to a frontend-focused role has been nothing short of an adventure. In this blog post, I want to share my thoughts and reflections on this rollercoaster ride, from the highs of learning new things to the surprising quirks of life at an IT agency.

Learning Curve

Let's start with the learning curve. Going from a seasoned backend developer to a greenhorn in the frontend realm was like trying to scale a mountain with no ropes. New topics and techniques flooded my plate, and I had to roll up my sleeves and dive in. The curve is still steep in many areas, but hey, that's what keeps things interesting, right? To be a top-notch front-end developer, you've got to ride the wave of new trends and tools.

The IT Agency Rollercoaster

Working at an IT agency is like navigating a maze with unexpected twists and turns. Here's the situation: every task you undertake, every hour you log, must be accounted for by the client. It is not like in a company where you build your product. It's intense, to say the least. What surprised me the most? The dynamic nature of our team. People join us, and others move on to new opportunities— it's like a constantly evolving cycle here.

But, and it's a big but, the agency life is demanding yet oddly joyful. Sure, there's pressure, but it's not the crushing kind. The spirit in our company and my team is sky-high. We're like a tight-knit family, always ready to lend a hand. We've got each other's backs. You can stroll down the office and strike up a conversation with anyone. Plus, FFW knows how to keep the party going with internal tech talks and events.

Leveraging My Backend Know-How

Now, here's where my 14 years of backend expertise came into play. One day, I accidentally brought production to its knees. Yep, it was a heart-pounding moment. However, my background in incident management and operations was my ace in the hole. Good communication and being upfront with the customer saved the day. And, let's not forget, that having a solid relationship with the dev ops team is gold. Remember, never annoy the dev ops folks!

But here's where things took an exciting turn. While I initially joined as a developer, I quickly realized that I was hungry for more. In the beginning, my role was straightforward: I brought the designer's vision to life, no questions asked. I was the coding powerhouse, and that was cool.

However, as time rolled on, I began to yearn for something more dynamic. I found myself craving deeper interaction with our customers and wanting to have a say in the decision-making process. It was a delightful surprise to discover that I missed those project management tasks, which I had never thought would be my cup of tea.

Looking Ahead

So, where does all of this lead me? I still love coding and developing software, but I want to wear more hats. I want responsibility for my work, not just lines of code. It looks like project management might be in my future. But don't worry, I won't forget my coding roots. For now, my sights are set on honing my front-end coding skills.

In a nutshell, my first six months at FFW have been a wild ride. From backend to frontend, from intense scrutiny to a supportive work family, and from coding to project management aspirations, it's been a journey filled with surprises and growth. The future? Well, it's looking pretty exciting from where I'm standing!